Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly speaks during media day for the BCS Championship game on Saturday. / Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Brian Kelly has a blueprint for beating Alabama in the BCS National Championship game. It involves running the football, protecting the football and forcing the Crimson Tide out of their comfort zone.

Kelly's blueprint for Notre Dame does not involve any Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M's redshirt freshman quarterback, who capped his Heisman-winning season with a memorable performance against Oklahoma in Friday's Cotton Bowl.

Asked about how the Irish might move the ball against Alabama during the open media day on Saturday, Kelly replied (via @Nick_Matthews):

"We don't go into this game thinking we are going to Johnny Manziel you to death. #JohnnyFootball"

What does it mean to "Johnny Manziel" an opponent? It means to run circles around a team like Alabama, much like Johnny Football did during the Aggies' 29-24 win against the Tide in November.

Instead of trying to "Manziel" an opponent, Notre Dame might attempt to "Everett Golson" a team like Alabama. It's just like the "Manziel," only with Golson extending plays with his feet and hurting the Tide with his arm.